Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-09-01
THE GREAT REUNION.
A MEMORABLE oCCAsIoN-THE GREAT
EST CROWD EVER IN WHEELING.
MONSTER PARADE

I0e elVenth annual reunion or the
society of the Army of West Vir-
ginia occurred at Wheeling on Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Of
last week. Preparations for the event
had been in progress for months, and
without exception they seemed to be
complete. Never before was so great q
crowd of people in the city, but they
were handled admirably by the COM
mittee appointed to look after their
comfort, and no complaint WAS heard
from any quarter; indeed, so thorough
ly had that committee organized the
city that much greater crowd could
have been comfortably provided for.
The decoration of the streets and
bulldogs was admirable. Arches and
banners spanned the streets, and the
fronts of buildings were covered with
flags. Bridgeport, likewise. partook OF
the enthusiasm, and as result the dis
play of flags and the like was almost as
elaborate as though the reunion had oc-
CURED there. On the Island a monster
tent was erected, and within that were
the speeches and songs and camp fires.
On Thursday occurred the trades dis
play and parade,on every hand conceded
the finest parade ever witnessed in these
parts. The factories and all kinds Of
trades people engaged in a friendly ri
vairy, and as Result ali who witnessed
| it were surprised and gratiied at the
completeness aud gorgeousness of the
parade. In the afternoon the great tent
was filed, and the balance of the day
spent listening to songs and speeches
and the music of bands. Ex President
Hayes, First Vice President of the sor
ciety, presided, in the absence of Gen.
Crook, its President. who had an en-
oagement with Chief Co lorow that could
not be postponed.
After supper the tent was again
filled, and for two hours the great crowd
listened to speeches and music. Then
they poured out into the open air, to
witness the fireworks. At this time
the crowd could only be measured by
acres. The fireworks were brilliant.
and people who expected to go to their
homes on trains fingered and left re-
gretfully before the show was over.
Friday was Grand Army day. The pa
rade formed at 10 o'clock, and passed
over the line assigned it. All went
pleasantly until the Register Office was
reached, across the street from which
was suspended "a banner. with a picture
of President Cleveland, with the words
God bless the President. Grover Cleve>
land, commander-in-chief of the army
and navy Of the United States" Most
of the posts in the line refused to march
under it, crowding TO the sidewalks to
avoid it. This episode creatsd intense
excitenent-the rebel element of the
city hOoting and yelling and kissing
but the column moved on, few of the
men passing under the objectionable
banner, and many trailing their banners
as they passed under the line. 1t was
an unfortunate incident of the other
wise pleasant occasion, and the Register
people and Postmaster Simpson are
mainly responsible for it.
After dinner the closing exercises of
the reunion took place in the great tent.
L. was determined that the reunion of
next year shall be held at Wheeling.
In the evening some of the Pitts burgh
veterans, headed 10y the Cathedral Band.
of Pittsburgh, marched to the McLure
House, to serenade the Governors of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Major Hay, of Pittsburgh, acted as
spokesman of the occasion. Gov. Beaver
made pleasant speech of farewell and
congra tulation over the success of the
reunion, as did Gov. Foraker. Then
came Gov. Wilson, who made good his
cognomen of Windy Wilson" At once
he pitched into d political TRADE. He
accused Gov. Foraker of going over into
West Virginia 10 coax young Democrats
into the Republican camps-said the
confederate soldiers were deserving of
as much credit as any other soldiers,
and so on for quality. Replying to him,
Gov. Foraker inquired where he was
during the war Gov. Wilson replied
that he was too young to go into tue
war. Gov Foraker reminded him that
he (Forakerl was four years bis junior.
and yet he had been in sixteen battles
before he was nineteen years of age
Gen. W. Fl. Gibson followed, and poured
the shot into the bOorish Governor in
fine style. go home, young man" said
he, "aud teach your children that the
rebels were everlastingly wrong, and
right" The ground in front of the no.
tel was packed with people, and the
cheers and brayos that greeted Foraker
aud Gibson were unmistakable evidence
that this second attempt at disturbance
Vas a signal failure.
The reunion was great and signal
success, and it is safe to say that, after
the experience Of this year, that of next
year will be greater. DrummODd Post
(Of ST. Clairsville) mustered 65 men In
the parade, all mounted. The Post was
a conspicuous feature of the parade.
AUDITOR OF STATE KEIsWETTEE,i in a
letter to the Gazette, explains that his
Board of Equalization
.. Finding rrnnL Ciiscrena..ny in the an